Notice: the Cape Cod Today Folks asked us NOT to post more than 2 x a week!
Why not protest in a time of declared war, especially when that war was unprovoked? And, yes, I do think this administration is repeating the mistakes of the Viet Nam conflict. Of course, as veterans (am I going too far to assume you are a vet?) we know that no one has more interest in peace, today or any other time, than the soldiers who go to work, risking life and limb, when it fails. As for the message our demonstrations send, there I must beg to differ with you as I will differ another time about the soldiers fighting being an "all voluntary" force.
I was in Afghanistan, OEF IV, on a mission I was proud to undertake--the hunt for Bin Laden. Mere months after the invasion of Iraq, even after the officially touted, "End of Combat Operations"; we saw our logistical support drying up, being diverted to Iraq. It came to the point where we were running short on fuel, parts, even ammunition. Still, we managed to carry on. My unit participated in numerous Combined Arms Operations, missions planned to apprehend or terminate key leaders in Al Qaeda. Each time, despite flawless execution of our operations, we came up empty handed. By the end of my rotation, I was informed through my chain of command that those Combined Arms Operations were merely shows of force. As if that wasn't enough, there were other instances when one of these key leaders was located in or around Kabul. Rather than mobilize an Army Special Forces team that was less than an hour away, the Pentagon deferred the target to SEAL teams that were several hours away. Needless to say, by the time they got there, the target was no longer on site.
This is the kind of incompetence and dishonesty that turned me against this administration. As a former member of the Armed Forces, with fifteen years of service, I am very patriotic and concerned with the security of my nation and the safety of my fellow Americans. However, I have come to feel that it is the actions of our government, more than our ideology that has steeled our enemy against us. Four years after the invasion of Iraq, we have not established security in Iraq despite numerous troop increases. We have yet to make more than a dent in improving the infrastructure in Iraq or providing jobs for the population. Furthermore, by proposing an economic plan that would give 80% of Iraqi oil revenue to US companies, our administration is demonstrating its economic agenda towards Iraq, and perhaps its true motivation for invading the country in the first place.
Regardless of your views of September 11th, the fact remains that Iraq was not involved in that attack. This administration intentionally manipulated or created intelligence to deceive the American people and Congress into supporting an invasion of Iraq. Subsequent investigations and numerous testimonies have confirmed this. We were told that once Hussein was captured, we'd leave. That was also a lie. We were told our forces would withdraw once stability was established in Iraq, yet coalition forces have participated in the perpetuation of instability. (With this I refer to the British soldiers, SAS that were caught in the process of planting explosives in a Shia neighborhood while dressed in Sunni garb, driving a civilian vehicle loaded with explosives and carrying no identification. This is widely documented by a variety of foreign media sources but was swept under the rug by US media and spun outright by the British media. Where one Special Forces team was caught, it is not a far leap to believe more were in play.)
In a time of global extremism, moderate positions are more conducive to compromise and therefore peace. Instead of arbitrarily accepting that our enemies hate us for our freedoms, perhaps we should look to our actions as instigation of their animosity. Imperialism and terrorism are opposing forces that rarely exist exclusively of one another. Imperialistic governments rely on propaganda to provide public support for their agendas. Often, as is documented, state-sponsored terrorism is used to create the fear that suppresses the question of governmental reports and press releases. When dissent is suppressed, then democracy is effectively snuffed--the people no longer have a voice and are no longer served by the government.
"Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." --Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichmarshall, Luft Waffe Commander, testimony from the Nuremburg Trials after WWII.
The signs that were carried by the Eagles rang of the very kind of propaganda rhetoric that Goering was speaking about. When the population blindly accepts the propaganda of its government, the rationality of the people is called into question and hope for peaceful resolution of conflicts with that nation is lost. When hope for peace is lost, violence is the only course remaining. That is why I feel justified in my opinion that sending more troops and insisting on "Staying the course" is fueling the violence against our troops--getting more and more of them killed without reason.
How many times have we been told that we're "Bringing Democracy to the people of Iraq"? Well, my question is, how can we bring Democracy to others when it is a struggling notion here at home? Democracy is based on the discussion of differing ideas to find a compromise that meets the needs of the majority of the people. When those who have ideas that differ from those of the administration are demonized, insulted, and assaulted, that represents a clear suppression of the freedom of speech, the refusal of our elected representative(s) to acknowledge the concerns of the people. While we're talking about the people and Democracy, let's remember that there is a definite and distinct difference between one's country and one's government. Our Fore Fathers knew this very well. They took a stand for what was best for our country, against the government at that time. Similarly, but hopefully peacefully, we take a stand against our government, to demonstrate that there are plenty among the US population that retain our wits about us, despite the anger, fear, and hate the administration's propaganda machine is churning out upon us. It is now our charge to make our concerns known and take a stand for what we believe is best for our nation, not the government or its wealthy elite cohorts.
Going back to the "mistakes of Viet Nam" discussion, the propaganda our government is churning out now rings the same sentiments that were conveyed then. Back then we were told of the dangers our withdrawal would hold: That the fight against Communism would find its way here, that South Viet Nam would be thrust into bloody chaos--spilling the blood of thousands of innocents. Those threats did not come to bear. We did not fight Communism on US soil and Viet Nam found its own stability soon enough, later to become a normalized trading partner with the US and a forgiving member of the global community. The people of Viet Nam, even under Communist influence, were able to find their own way through and returned to their cultural roots. Similarly, if we withdraw from Iraq, they will find their own way through this. Eventually, likely sooner than later, they will form a governmental system that suits their needs and culture, not the economic desires of US corporations. From my point of view, no economic interest or political agenda warrants the loss of our precious human lives.
How can you justify flying POW/MIA flags, making a statement against a government that left its soldiers behind then, only to show support for a government that is willing to do the same. The Bush administration will not even fund the only national memorial to our service members who have lost their lives since September 11th, the "Faces of the Fallen" memorial. That memorial has been entirely privately funded and is only temporarily housed in the Women's War Memorial at the Arlington National Cemetery. A rendering of a friend of mine is displayed there.
Such is the true nature of this administration--they would leave us behind. This administration has repeatedly cut funding to the Department of Veteran's Affairs. More are being turned away and denied treatment or disabilities fur injuries sustained in this war. Like in Viet Nam, those suffering from PTSD are not receiving adequate treatment.
Why are the flag-draped coffins of our fallen not greeted by veterans when they return home anymore? Why does the administration refuse to consider the human cost of war? In stead of "no child left behind", we need a "no service member left behind" policy. With great power comes great responsibility. If our government is not willing to take care of its soldiers, then we should end the war. Total power corrupts totally. There are only two solutions to a corrupt government--regime change or protest. Which would you prefer???
Afghan_Vet
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